Rovers cop Major League crown

OH YES WE DID IT! The Lilliput Rovers team accept their winners’ trophy and cheque from Chrissano Dalley (4th right ) of Sandals Resorts International and President of the FA, Gregory Daley (2nd left) following a narrow 1-0 victory over Cambridge in the Major League final played at Jarrett Park last Saturday. Also sharing in the moment are Member of Parliament for East Central St. James, Ed Bartlett (1st left).

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

A determined Lilliput Rovers defied the underdog tag to punch their ticket to next year’s Western CONFED, with a tantalizing and absorbing 1-0 win over fancied Cambridge, in Saturday’s (May 26) finale at Jarrett Park to claim the St. James FA Sandals Resorts International Major League title.

A goal of
nothing and totally against the run of play on a defensive mix-up between the
Cambridge goalkeeper and their central defender gifted Rovers the decisive
victory as they earned bragging rights and also walked away with the cash prize
of $200,000, medals and the winners’ trophy.

The
all-important goal from Terrick Dixon proved the difference between the sides
in the Cambridge-dominated match.

Cambridge,
disappointed again in a major match, pocketed $140,000 for their efforts as
well as medals, while third and fourth place teams Heights and Violet Kickers,
secured 90 and 60,000 dollars respectively.

Marlon
Brown of the champions Rovers also walked away with the top award, being named
the Most Valuable Player.

Obrian Bent
who ended as the League’s leading scorer with 11 goals to his name, was guilty
of missing at least three clear-cut chances as Cambridge sank to the stinging
defeat.

Dent’s
first bite at scoring came midway the opening half, but he slipped at the
crucial point after getting away from his defensive opponents with a darting
run into the area.

His
clearest chance came just after the hour mark, but he stunningly missed from
inside the six-yard box when his toe poke was charged down by a diving defender
at the near post after Dent had powered into the box from inside his half to
the opponent’s goal.

He later
rocketed a ferocious shot against the underside of the crossbar from some 18
yards out, again after racing past a couple of desperately lunging defenders
who failed to keep control of his speed throughout.

The killer
goal was to come later late in the half and from a lightning attack down the
left by the Rovers team who, through Dixon, seized the clear-cut chance,
lobbing the ball into the back of the net, past an advancing Cambridge
goalkeeper caught in an if-and-go play at the back with his central defender.